Northwestern vs. Maryland 2024 predictions

After Northwestern earned a 33-27 victory over Maryland in Evanston last season, the Cats travel to Maryland for their third conference game. With NU looking to win in College Park for the first time since 2017, our staff predicts tonight’s battle between the Cats and Terrapins will be as follows:

Adam Beck: Maryland 35, Northwestern 17

This Maryland passing attack will have a field day against Northwestern’s secondary. Billy Edwards Jr. has turned heads this season, and with Tai Felton and Kaden Prather on the outside, Northwestern’s secondary should struggle for the third straight game in Big Ten competition. Jack Lausch looked better against Indiana, but Maryland’s offense might just be too strong for the Cats’ offense to have a say here.

Brendan Preisman: Maryland 28, Northwestern 21

This game will pit great run defenses (Northwestern is 18th, Maryland is 34th) against pretty poor rushing offenses (101st and 79th, respectively). The key to Maryland’s success this season has been turnover luck – the Terrapins are +11 this season, the best mark in the country. Billy Edwards Jr. commands the offense incredibly well, and his success in the RPO game provides a dire prognosis for Friday’s contest considering how badly the Wildcats’ secondary was hit by Kurtis Rourke and Indiana last week . My Bold Prediction: Joe Himon II scores a kick return touchdown to keep Northwestern in the game, but the Cats’ offense slows down in the fourth and Tai Felton seals the deal with a long score.

Charlie Jacobs: Maryland 28, Northwestern 20

Even though Billy Edwards Jr. isn’t as good as Kurtis Rourke, he’s still one of the better passers in the country. Northwestern has been defeated by Denzel Boston and Elijah Sarratt in the previous two Big Ten matchups, but their toughest test now lies in Tai Felton and his sixth-highest receiving yards in the country. The Cats’ secondary still needs to improve, but the front seven should be playing better. With the Terrapins fresh off a bye and the Cats only traveling for a short week, Jack Lausch will need to put up points against a rested team after his breakout game against Indiana. Even with an improved Listen, this Maryland offense will prove too overpowering for this Northwestern secondary and hand the Terps the win.

Ascher Levin: Northwestern 21, Maryland 17

Quarterback Billy Edwards got the Terrapins off to a decent start, throwing for 1,444 yards and 11 touchdowns with just two interceptions. His preferred receiver, Tai Felton, has rushed for 642 yards and five touchdowns in five games. Northwestern needs to make sure it improves its pass defense, especially after getting shredded by Kurtis Rourke. Maryland, coming off a bye week, will have an advantage in preparation while Northwestern has a short week. Offensively, Northwestern showed promise against Indiana, with Jack Lausch leading one of their most complete performances this season. Although Lausch has had his inconsistent moments, the Cats have a chance at a solid offensive game if they can maintain the level of play from last week. Additionally, last week’s defensive issues may prove to be an aberration given the likely return of defensive lineman Carmine Bastone. With the team’s bowl game hopes fading, I predict NU will pull off an upset as a 10-point underdog.

Natalie Wells: Maryland 27, Northwestern 23

I want to believe the Cats will upset the Terps in College Park. I really do. When I think of this match, I immediately think back to NU’s 21-point comeback win over Minnesota last season. Do I believe Jack Lausch is capable of throwing for 396 yards like Ben Bryant did in that fateful win? Not at this point in his career. But I believe the youngster will continue his development on the road and throw for over 200 yards in consecutive weeks. Unfortunately, defeating Billy Edwards Jr. and an excellent Terrapin passing offense won’t be enough.

Ben Adams: Maryland 27, Northwestern 17

Although Northwestern’s home loss to Indiana had several positives, Jack Lasuch and the offense were inconsistent and the secondary’s tackling was extremely poor. Combine these deficiencies with a Maryland offense that has scored over 20 points in every game this year behind the phenomenal play of Billy Edwards Jr., and it will be extremely difficult for the Cats to make an impact in College Park.

Sai Trivedi: Maryland 33, Northwestern 24

For the Wildcats, a win in this matchup will be decided on the defensive side of the ball. Jack Lausch looked far more comfortable in the pocket against Indiana, and I trust the offense can find a rhythm, especially against a Maryland defense that has been vulnerable this season. However, Billy Edwards Jr. and Maryland’s potent offense will pose a daunting task for Northwestern’s defense, especially given the Cats’ issues with open-field tackles and constant coverage raids in the secondary. Unless the defense improves significantly, it’s hard to imagine a surprise.

Ethan Weinberg: Maryland 27, Northwestern 20

Last season’s matchup against Maryland ended in a miraculous win for the Cats at Ryan Field, but I have a hard time seeing that magic repeated this time. Northwestern’s defense was overwhelmed by a dominant Indiana offense last week, and while the Terps aren’t as productive, their offense still packs quite a punch. Billy Edwards Jr. has shown great confidence as Maryland’s signal-caller, and his RPO success and connection to Tai Felton could prove to be a challenge for NU’s defense. Importantly, this game tells us a lot about Jack Lausch’s ability to play on the road and whether his poor performance in Seattle was a blip or the start of a worrying trend. While I think the Cats could keep this game close, I think the Terps will take the home win and further jeopardize Northwestern’s bowl hopes.

Wyatt Audler: Maryland 31, Northwestern 24

The bottom line is that both teams suffered losses similar to Indiana’s in back-to-back weeks, but the Terrapins made things a little harder on Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke, snagging two interceptions during the game. Northwestern didn’t pick up a single win during their battle against the Hoosiers. For a Wildcat team that has struggled with offensive consistency and productive quarterback play, Maryland’s secondary is terrible. Additionally, Maryland has one more week of rest than Northwestern. This is a sure blessing for the Terrapins, as three of their starters (wide receivers Tai Felton and Kaden Prather and safety Dante Trader Jr.) left the game against Indiana with injuries. Coach Michael Locksley said on Tuesday that two of the three had trained but refused to provide further information on the players’ status next matchday. The health of their wide receiver core and strong safety will certainly influence the outcome of this matchup. However, assuming at least two will play, and given Maryland’s strong secondary and home-field advantage, I expect the Terrapins to get their first Big Ten win this season.

Miguel Muñoz: Maryland 30, Northwestern 21

After a hard-fought performance against No. 23 Indiana at Lakefill, the Wildcats are still looking for their first Big Ten win. Next up is the Terrapins, who find themselves in a similar situation, looking for their first conference win of the year despite a trio of dominant non-conference wins. What will likely decide NU’s fate is how much they can limit the Billy Edwards-Tai Felton connection that has powered the Terps’ offense all season. The Cats looked better last Saturday, but a Friday night showdown in College Park will give Maryland enough momentum to defeat Northwestern.

Season status:

5-0: Adam Beck, Natalie Wells, Ethan Weinberg

4-0: Miguel Muñoz

4-1: Brendan Preisman, Ascher Levin

2-1: Harris Horowitz

3-2: Charlie Jacobs

1-0: Weldon Genies